president, to borrow the money to sustain our military forces in afghanistan. that is literally what we're talking about here in this debate. the american people are starting to come to understand it because when you first ask a person do you want to extend the debt ceiling, the obvious answer is no, are you crazy, senator? why would i want more debt in this country? we need less debt, not more. don't you get it? understandably, that's the public reaction, but when you go to the point of explaining that this is to pay for things we have already -- debts we have already incurred -- and it isn't just to wage a war. it's a debt incurred to pay for medicare. we said to 65-year-olds across america you get a health insurance plan called medicare and it will be there when you need it. when you go to the hospital and turn in your bills, we'll pay that doctor and pay that hospital, and we borrow money to do it. mr. brown: will the assistant majority leader yield? mr. durbin: i will. mr. brown: i just walked in. i appreciate your comments about where we were. 10 years ag